The Road Is Life

While traveling you will encounter all sorts of people that your daily life might exclude. One morning our breakfast bar in the hotel featured a group in their pajamas and slippers. Now, any college student visiting the school cafeteria must be familiar with this scene--I even know students who enjoyed wearing their pajamas to class...I don't really approve, but it doesn't bother me. However, it raised the ire of other members of my group who discussed it a couple of times during the day in disparaging tones. They claimed that this look is an insult to the other people in public places--that it shows a lack of respect for everyone around them who is forced to see them so disheveled...So here's a question to those reading this blog: is wearing your pajamas in public disrespectful or an acceptable eyesore?

142 comments:

your purple tights are so cute. to answer your question for pj's, i work for a huge university and i see student ALL the time in pj's and it just looks lazy to me. perhaps disrespectful to their professor but maybe not.i don't really get what's so hard about getting dressed in the morning though...

your ring with the sheep (?) is gorgeous! where did you get it?as to wearing pajamas in public - i do disapprove. i can feel it's ok if it's early in the morning and you just need to go to the bakery and have a coat over it. also, in a hotel, if you have a bathrobe over it to go to breakfast and have brushed your hair, i wouldn't mind. personally i have to walk through the staircase of the house i live in to get to my bathroom, so sooner or later i meet my neighbours in pajamas, but i always wear a bathrobe over it. but really just in pajamas? no.

I definitely don't approve of wearing pajamas in public, in general, but I don't see any problem with wearing them to breakfast at the hotel (as long as it's continental breakfast rather than a restaurant). Personally, I always get dressed for breakfast at hotels, because that's how I like to present myself, but if other people want to present themselves in pajamas, I think that's fine at breakfast.

Where I live, no one goes out in pajamas. Unless it's before 8am and they are going really quickly to the corner store. Wearing pajamas in a hotel or further then a few blocks around your neighborhood would cause people to ask if you were okay, and offer to take you to your house, call someone that might help, or slip you a shrink's phone number.

I think pajamas are only acceptable in public very, very late at night or very, very early in the morning. For instance, going to the diner with friends at midnight seems like an acceptable venue for pajama-wearing. But during daylight hours, I think it's just sloppy.

I've never seen people wearing pajamas outside or in a cafeteria lol, it's impossible in France but I'd love to see that :p I Omg you've found an abandonned house it's really impressive !! Love your blue tights and the first dress is gorgeous :)

I think that people have the right to present themselves in whatever way they see fit. I personally look down my nose a little bit at those wearing pajamas in public because it shows me that they obviously do not care about how they are viewed by the world. I take pride in my appearance and like to present myself in a dignified way so I may be taken seriously; but if another person does not have the same views and is comfortable wearing pj's in public...well..more power to them.

I think it's ok in a shared flat or on a camping site on the way to the shower to wear (decent) pyjamas or nighties. Otherwise it really looks selfabandoned.Ok, second exception: really well styled outfits incorporating pj-trousers or a nighty. That really might be mind blowing.Anyway: I also do not like to see people wearing track pants, but they do.

i feel like pajamas in public are for people who lack confidence, and therefore by wearing pajamas they put on the facade of "i don't give a shit, they're just clothes" in order to cover up their insecurities in their own personal style & look.

I don't necessarily approve of wearing pajamas in public but I wouldn't go as far as saying that it's disrespectful to other people. Whatever floats your boat, right? Right. But I do have to quote my favorite teacher ever in saying that 'when you wear sweatpants(or pajamas, for this case) it just signals to the world that you have given up.'

I adore your dress!!! Those rings are such eye candy! You blue tights in the second picture is perfect for your beautiful black flats!

When I was living at the dorms, I see students going to classes in their pjs but to me, it doesn't bother as long as they are not overly disheveled like barefoot or shirt crinkled everywhere, stains, etc... I mean, I believe everybody has a right to dress the way they like and it's their choice. Like you, I don't approve it but I'm not against it either. If I don't like the way someone dress, I'll look away and ignore it but I won't talk about it in an insulting way.

I love your silver ring! So beautiful!On the subject of PJ's, I'm not particularly bothered by people wearing they're pajamas in hotels and in the cafeteria, but I would never do so myself.I understand why it could be considered disrespectful, though I hardly think that is the pajama wearer's intention.I think it's actually a bit too quick to judge the person as disrespectful just for their love of comfort wear, as unprofessional as it may look. But as important as presentaion is, the cafeterria of a college and a continental breakfast at a hotel are both situations where it is less valued, in my opinion.

i don't have a problem with anyone wearing anything. if it satisfies you to walk around in your pajamas all day, be my guest. all i know is i'll never do so and you'll look like a complete (sleepy) fool ;)

i think it is extremely disrespectful to wear pajamas to class - i agree that it is disrespectful to the teacher and the class.

my landlady wears big flannel pj pants around town and it just annoys the hell out of me. have some self-respect! no one is too busy to pull on a pair of jeans or even black knit pants for goodness sakes!

Interesting question. When I get dressed, I do it mostly for myself but also out of respect for the occasion and the people I'll be seeing. If it's a casual do-nothing day I'll be okay dressing down (though never in pajamas out in public!), but I'll put in the effort to look good for a special occasion.

I would (probably) not do it myself, but others wearing pyjamas wouldn't really bother me... I might find it a little odd, as you don't see people doing that here... almost ever :) but ultimately, I don't believe in fashion policing.

wal-mart at 2 am. The only time it's acceptable. (I wore matching pink gingham pjs one time there) I say, if you're at a place like wal-mart, secluded, empty, random, and it's very late or very early, it can be excused. otherwise.....nope.

I sometimes have wanted to wear my PJ's to convenience stores, etc. but I live in such a small city that I always see someone I know, causing me to put on sweatpants or something, but sweatpants are not a large improvement. Loving the first outfit BTW, fabulous.

I LOVE that abandoned little house! It looks really really neat! Wow! Anyways...I never really liked it when people wore pajama pants to school and in public, but I never thought of it as disrespectful. I suppose in a way it is if you're in class and everyone made the effort to wear proper clothes while other get away with pajamas. Hmm. That is a good question indeed!

I love that dilapidated building! :) I'd personally never go anywhere in my pjs, but it doesn't bug me much. I guess it just depends on the setting - I wouldn't think it's entirely out of place at a hotel breakfast, but everywhere else it is sort of irksome.

As for wearing pajamas in public, I wouldn't do it but it doesn't bother me at all. I've seen stranger things on people. Personally I really don't like criticising other people's choice of clothes. How people look rarely bothers me, it's their attitude that matters more.

I love your dress, rings and tights!About the Pjs i personally think fair enough if you want to wear them in your own house and have a 'pajama day' but I can't understand why anyone would want to go out in their pajamas, for me half of the fun of going out is having a little play of dress up before I do so. :)

i think its ok for like silly events like we had in school : such as wear pajamas to school day, or it is ok too if you go to the market for a quick snack early morning or late at night. it depends but certain places such as office, or any other job can look like he/she didn't put any effort to dress for work. pjs appear as a lazy outfit that's why.

I love your ram ring & the house is so wizard of oz, particularly in that great shot where it is framed through your arm

I've never really approved of pjs in public, but I did read this werid article in In Style about etiquette for house guests & how you shouldn't wear pjs to breakfast the next morning unless the host does b/c that isn't something you would do at a hotel...it was interesting. I was confused because I assume if you're a house guest you know the people well enough to wear pjs?

Hi! I have never seen anyone in their pajamas to class (at least here in Madrid)... I think it wouldn't be well seen, or at least everybody would see it as a lack of respect, most of all for the teacher.Anyway, if ppl wanna go in that way and look like the laziest ppl in the world... it's just up to them, I won't say anything at all!

I often wear pajamas to breakfast in hotels. I like to eat before I shower, and I don't want to put on yesterday's dirty clothes to eat nor do I want to put on today's clean clothes before I've washed nor do I want to pack special "breakfast clothes". I don't think pj's at breakfast is a big deal at all.

i don't mind the pjs. they're comfy! not that i ever went to school with them on. heh. anyways, your photos are soooo beautiful! i love that red dress and the setting for the purple tights is amazing! i've always wanted to shoot with torn down/desserted/textured places!

Doesn't really bother me when other people do it... I just wonder why they don't show themselves more self respect. Something I would never do. Mostly because I thoroughly enjoy choosing an outfit every morning. The furthest away from my house my pajamas have gone it outside to throw trash in the dumpster.

When I was in China about 10 years ago, it was quite common to see a whole family out at night in their pajamas, I'm not sure if it was just a trend then or it continues now. I can't help think of times when I have incorporated something which probably was vintage nightwear into an outfit too. I guess I don't have a problem with them as they're just another item of clothing, but just continuing to wear it from sleeping during the day and out of the house seems a bit lazy to me, but I don't think anyone means to disrespect anyone by doing it.

The red dress with turquoise shoes is a lovely combination! Love your tights in the second outfit, makes the attire pop! I think college students of every uni wear their sleepwear around their hostel the whole day... cause we sleep round the clock?(haha) As long as they look decent I think it's fine. :)

Oh my goodness! Where to begin? The turquoise blue pumps are divine and the country shots with the shack and your purple tights - you are a master colourist!! I love it all!! As for turning up to lectures in pyjamas - I think that's not on. It's a bit hobbo-esque and implies they haven't washed or even brushed their teeth - no I don't condone that kind of behaviour at all.

People on pajamas wandering around on high public places are not commonly found around my country (also because most people don't wear pajamas here, actually), so I can't really relate to such circumstances... But personally, I think we should separate the context between what the society might think about it versus what the person him/herself feel about it. As everyone is required (most of the time) to put themselves on the appropriate social "track", so pajamas on public places seems inappropriate when we relate it to the social standard of politeness and else. People will give judgment based on the convention that they had agreed with (probably unconsciously) since long long time ago, that these clothes are sleepwears and should be worn only when we do something that is sleeping-related.

It's quite funny for me, because I don't mind people wear anything on public when they're comfortable with their decisions. My emphasizing is on their personal need and right to fulfill it - nevermind about the pajamas. Okay, this sounds selfish, but I don't think it's only about we care or careless about what others think about ourselves. Maybe it's the perception that make meanings. If we grew up learning that people are sleeping on their stilettos and mini skirt, we would've discussed about how impolite the girls who wore those two items on public places - because the shared understandings about sleepwears are actually the eminent matter of how we will perceive its appropriateness. Call me nuts, but I think world that is filled with people doing activities on their pajamas for the whole days are quite lovely to be lived in... I just hope they won't forget to change the underwears everytime. *grin*

I think it is not that hard to pull on a pair of pants. And to go along with the respect issue, my sociology prof once said "The way you dress shows how important you deam the situation." He wasn't just talking about dressing up for job interviews, he was also commenting on slackly dressed people who pull the lines "My friends don't care how I dress" and "I'm comfortable." Dressing like a slob isn't so much disrespectful of others as much as it is disrespectful of oneself.

Depends, honestly if they are just out to breakfast I figure its none of my business what they are wearing, as long as they are wearing clothes I won't say anything. However, in school I find it disrespectful. Your job is to go to class and learn, and it shows a lack of effort for your job of being at school and lack of respect to the teacher. That is of course my personal opinion.

i love Love LOVE the second outfit, especially those tights and the scenery.

anyways, i wore pajamas once in public because we were having a pajama party at my commuter orientation for university and we wanted to walk a bit, but i didn't know we'd be going in public and i didn't change, so yeah. it was only bottoms though, but still. i was quite embarrassed. but i disprove. it think pajamas should be kept for indoors.

haha I remember when I was in middle school it was in style to wear your pajamas out in public. As you can probably tell, I don't come from a very stylish town. I personally don't find anything wrong with wearing pajamas out in public as long as they are not worn in a formal environment. I really like both your outfits and your rings! Oh, and that deserted house is beautiful.

I don't really like it when people wear pajamas in public, but I don't think of it as disrespectful in general. However, if I was teaching a class, and a student showed up in pajamas, I would find that disrespectful.

I think PJ's in public are acceptible for ducking to the dairy for some milk etc.But when someone wears PJ pants to the mall paired with a sparkly top, now that is just WRONG! (I was unfortunate enough to witness this sight last weekend)

eh. i don't approve of, nor enjoy looking at, people wearing pajamas in public places. but of course they have the freedom to wear pajamas in public. if it makes the people happier, i'd much rather that than a well-dressed rude person.

I don't approve of wearing pjs in public but am definetly not offended. It shows more disrespect for themselves than for the public.Both your rings are gasp worthy. And your jacket is just perfect. I love all the little detailing. The whole second set of pictures is simply lovely.-indigo

Whenever I saw students wearing their pjs out in class or at the cafeteria, they looked so comfortable. Now, I would feel uncomfortable wearing pajamas out in public, but if that's how they feel it's fine. They probably don't think about how it might disrespect the teachers, as it's all about comfort.

I don't take it personally when someone wears pajamas to run a quick errand, get coffee, or go to class. It's whatever. Actually, I found it more distasteful when girls wore high heels to class. My undergrad university was large and included a very big hill, and it just wasn't right. They didn't seem like they were there to learn, ifyaknowwhatimean. I'm all for being fabulous but I didn't get that.

@Anonymous 5:51, I use a Canon Rebel xs.@Anonymous 7:12, the tights are blue...but they do have a purplish tone. :)To everyone else who has been asking: the nail polish is self-mixed and my ring is from a street vendor in Greece.

Purple tights FTW!And I love your turq shoes, too.I agree. It is disrespectful. It shows that you didn't think it important enough to at least pull on a pair of jeans and a t shirt when coming out in public. Gives out the character of a person, if you ask me.

I think that if the pj's aren't indecent, like if they are long enough it's no problem. I have friends that go to college with them and all. I mean if that's what they feel like wearing and they aren't breaking rules than that's cool. ^-^

I'm loving that pic with the shack in the background, loving your turquoise shoes. ^-^

you know that classic painting where the girl in a prairie is turned a little and she is looking back at a house? one of your photos reminds me of it :3 lovely outfits and photoshoot!

and to answer your question...it all depends on whether or not your PJs are chic. XD most of the time they are not, so...when i see people dressed like crap, i get the impression that they are either downright lazy or think they're too important to care about what they look like.

Fantastic, as usual! The red and turquoise are great together... As for the pajamas issue, I would never step outside the house in pajamas, but if others feel comfortable doing so, that's up to them. I am, however, horrified by 'PINK' sweats tucked into ugg boots, which seems to be a very popular look on my campus -.-

I think it's fine to wear pajamas in public... I never really did it (unless for pajama day at school) but I remember people in high school wearing them. It was never something that bothered me or that I really cared that much about.

Wow, your clothes are really that cheap? You must be like an amazing shopper. My clothes are that cheap as I don't have any sort of income, but they don't look anything as good as yours! :)

I don't agree with wearing Pjs outside, I mean, I understand people who've done it for the day for like charity and stuff which is fair, but otherwise than that, it's silly and disrespectful in my opinion :)

I love those tights! People walking around in their PJs don't bother me unless, like other comments said, if they are skimpy, see-through or smelly. My freshman roommate used to Febreze her pajamas every morning instead of washing them. Ugh. It's been ten years and my nostrils still cringe. I was raised with the notion that presenting yourself nicely is a way of showing respect to other people, but I guess standards vary! Who knows, maybe that PJ'ed person is wearing their nicest set of jammie jam jams.

yes, but my point was merely that if their minds were freer & they could see through the bullshit "societal standards" they have accepted and taken as part of their own existence, then i would think they would see the entirely arbitrary nature of their judgment.

regardless of their age or the society they grew up in. anybody can do it, it's self reflection, it's progress.

I absolutely love that second outfit and photo! There is something about old wooden shacks that lends an air of history and mystery. The color of the tights are just awesome.

With regards to PJs in public, I think it depends on the context. I've come to expect it on a college campus in the dorms, even though that is not something I would do. People in their own homes would get up, go to the kitchen, and eat breakfast; in some ways, the cafeteria is the college student's kitchen, so it doesn't seem so out of place, especially on the weekends. However, when it is out in other public settings, it's a bit different. I was raised to present myself neatly when I go out because whether I like it or now, the first visual impression reflects on myself and also on people I'm with. I don't necessarily take offense at seeing people out in PJs, but it doesn't give me a good impression about the person caring about his/her peers.

So I have noticed you have an awesome jewelry collection. I love that second ring! Your jacket and that abandoned house are great as well.

As much as I love clothes, it isn't a big deal to me how others are dressed. Their life, their wardrobe. I wouldn't say it is disrespectful to wear pajamas out in public. It's probably the comfort factor propelling people to do that more than anything.

Ha, that's a good question! See (I guess you might have already assumed) Germans would never wear their PJs in public. Ever. So when I came to the United States at the young and innocent age of 16 and went to High School I was honestly shocked to see some girl wearing pink pajama bottoms with strawberries printed on them (yes, I still remember that). But I was just not used to that. Honestly, now I don't mind other people wearing their PJs in public. I might raise an eyebrow and think to myself that I'd never do that but I don't really care that much and it doesn't bother or insult me at all. I know that I wear some clothes, too, that other people would probably not wear and so I am definitely not in the position to judge others, either.

Oh I adore that red dress, those blue tights...and that photo of that abandoned house is perfect. Seriously, it's a photographers dream don't you think?

Oh the PJ's issue. Yeah I've seen plenty of students turn up to early morning lectures in uggs with their Pyjama bottoms tucked into them. Not the greatest look.. However guests having breakfast in hotels and people who run to the shops to buy milk in the mornings in their PJ's is fine...it certainly doesn't offend me in any way!

The red dress is fantastic. I love the ruffle detail at the bottom. It looks so flippy and gorgeous.

As for pajamas - travelling around Southeast Asia, one of the cheapest fabrics available is often fabric which we would consider "pajama" fabrics. In fact, I even spotted a couple of people wearing very similar sheep patterned ones to the ones I had at home! So while not exactly a comment on whether it is acceptable or wear pj's out in public, I think people shouldn't be so precious.

I personally do not care for people who wear their pjs to the school canteen, unless they are sporting some really prominent wear & tear and exposing bits of themselves. However I do draw the line at crowded public places where there is no excuse of it being a mere 5 min away from home.

i didn't think it's a problem as i seldom give a hoot.. unless they display undesirable inconsiderate behaviour at the buffet table or something. or when they smell.

i went on a trip with a friend sometime ago. she commented about the next table where the family ate breakfast in their sleepwear. by sleepwear, it's actually tee shirts and slacks. i looked closer to see how she could tell they're inappropriately attired. i have to say that my opinion became a little altered. your mind starts working and you don't want to know more details when you're trying to eat the most important meal of the day.

i think it would be really better if we put a bit of care into how we appear in public. being neat (and the perceived clean image that's associated with neatness) will make a difference.

Acceptable :) yet I wouldn't do it. I like looking good/decent when I'm out in public. But I could understand how others would find it offensive. After all, how hard is it to change into jeans and a t-shirt?

Lovely outfits by the way, especially the red dress. Very much a favorite color of mine. The teal nail polish is fantastic. Self mixed right? Great job, such style.

It's so charming the way your nail-polish matches your ring matches your shoes in the first outfit!

In response to the question, I saw a couple of girls going to the newsagents in pyjamas at around 11AM the other day, a weekday, they were 20ish, in London (so not a uni area). I didn't really know what to think....

well in fact i ve never seen students in pijamas- although i ve seen (in a cold day) students wearing jeans and inside their pijamas trousers!(oops!maybe it was me!!)In general, I dont mind people wearing pijamas to go to the minimarket!I think it shows a relaxing independent approach to life!Although,in university I would mind to see someone coming with pijamasBtw, this deserted house looks so scary!you are so brave for entering:)

love the tights / personally I believe in a persons right to wear what they want, when they want etc. So it would be hypocritical of me to critize pjs in public anymore than a fine suit or vintage couture. So while it may not be my particular taste, it really doesn't bother me. Thanks.

It really depends on the situation..I mean if they were to wear pajamas to class then I would think not, to me that's just plain disrespecting but to wear them while having breakfast at a hotel I don't really mind as long as they're not those sheer nighties one haha..

I also work at a university and I see PJs all the time... when I was in college I would definitely wear them out and about... but only to early breakfast on campus and only on the weekend. Since the cafeteria was like my kitchen for those few years, I thought (still think) it was OK.

Wow, there's a lot of hate about pajamas. Pajamas are clothes. I don't wear them out. But, wearing your pajamas out into public is just like wearing anything else. You are sharing something about you with the world, even though it is just, "I don't care, I'm comfy." It's not disrespectful, I mean come on. People don't wear pajamas to make you uncomfortable or to spite you. People can wear pjs, just like they can wear awesome rings (where did you get that, Rebecca??) or power suits.

my pajamas are usually just vintage smocks or muu muus and it's not uncommon of me to leave the house in them when running errands (grocery, post office, etc). i'll just smack on a belt and some cute sandals and call it a dress. ha!

The pajama thing never really bothered me, but I wouldn't do it. It just seems like if you have to get up and shower anyway I don't see how it's an extra hassle to put on real clothes, haha. But whatever!

pajama day during high school spirit week was such a huge deal. as far as wearing pajamas in public generally goes...i am rather torn. i think that ideally people should be able to wear whatever they want and whatever is comfortable at all times. however, society obviously doesn't work that way. people do evaluate you based on what you're wearing - pajamas look lazey, a suit looks classy and nice, etc. i certainly have a better first impression of someone if they are dressed well. hmm. this subject deserves more thought.

I have long believed that people should wear whatever makes them happy. I hate it when people complain about what other people are wearing, eg "she's too fat to wear that" etc.

I think everyone has a right to self-expression, so if you want to wear pj's, go for it.

It's sometimes tempting to criticise other's fashion choices, but ultimately I think everyone is responsible for their own happiness, so we should all wear what we want and not get upset or offended by other's choices :)

As someone who travels around in a van for half the year, I would say I'm not allowed to be bothered by pajamas in public. We have to drive overnight (or longer) quite often and I can't be bothered to wear real clothes the whole time. I've been in gas stations (100's of times), grocery stores, even the mall in my pajamas. But you should probably wear real clothes when you can, ha.

i don't think it's fair for other people to judge what's an "eyesore;" what if someone who simply didn't like the color orange decided that everyone who wore the color orange was an eyesore and took it as an insult that other people dare to wear such a horrendous color? i don't wear pajamas out, but i don't really care if other people do.